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South Korea ferry carrying 350 'sinking' South Korea ferry sinking with 450 on board
(35 minutes later)
A ferry with about 350 people on board is sinking off the south-west coast of South Korea, coast guard officials have said. A ferry with about 450 people on board is sinking off the south-west coast of South Korea, coastguard officials say.
Yonhap news agency said most of the passengers were secondary school students on their way to the southern resort island of Jeju. Most of the passengers are secondary school students on their way from Incheon to the southern resort island of Jeju, officials added.
It said the ferry had sent out a distress signal about 20km (12 miles) off the island of Byungpoong. Coastguard and naval vessels and helicopters have gone to the scene.
Coastguard officials say a rescue operation has been launched. Many passengers have already been lifted off and TV reports say remaining passengers have been told to jump into the sea to await rescue.
The ferry is reported to be listing at a severe angle. Images from the scene show the ferry listing at a severe angle.
Earlier reports put the number of passengers at about 350.
"The ship is taking in water and sinking," a coastguard spokesman told AFP news agency by phone."The ship is taking in water and sinking," a coastguard spokesman told AFP news agency by phone.
"We have coastguard vessels, commercial ships in the area, as well as helicopters all engaged in the rescue operation," the spokesman said."We have coastguard vessels, commercial ships in the area, as well as helicopters all engaged in the rescue operation," the spokesman said.
One passenger told the YTN news channel: "We heard a big thumping sound and the boat stopped.One passenger told the YTN news channel: "We heard a big thumping sound and the boat stopped.
"The boat is tilting and we have to hold on to something to stay seated," the passenger said."The boat is tilting and we have to hold on to something to stay seated," the passenger said.
News agencies said the ferry had sent out a distress signal about 20km (12 miles) off the island of Byungpoong at about 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT).
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